Chiropractic machine



Oct. 19, 1948- I I A. H. BINASH EI'AL' 2,451,507

CHIROPRACTIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 14, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IINVENTORS=ALBERT H. BINASH WILLIAM A.-TULL ROY T GAUTNEY BY%QQMV,

ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1948. A. H. BINASH EIAL CHIROPRACTIC MACHINE FiledSept. 14, 1944 2 Sheets$heet 2 H SLE U ALN N WU R 4 U m T G A H c A RA Yl BU Y LIO AWDH$ H wrm m l\ 2 w 7 {a 3 m F UT f Patented Get. 19, 1948FUFNZEEEZED :S'EET res CHIROPRACTIC 'MACHIN'E .tAlbert HirBinash; OakPark, William-A. Tull, Midlothian,: and- Roy TflGautney, Chicago, Ill.

Application september 14, 1944, Serial No. 554,034.

4' Claims. 1

The present invention *relates toa device or 'machine used inchiropractic therapy or similar treatment,*a-nd has reference-moreparticularly to that part of the mean s -forafiecting a'more safe,"every-and reactive stressing of the abdominal poritiOIlOf a patient.

resilientpad or cushion for protecting the ab- .domen. ofthe patient asit is; pressedagainst'the abdomenand also resilient means such'assprings and .spring .stresse'd,, parts, for' pressing the pad againstthe, abdomen, the .springs rbeing particularly designedto effecta.straight or. right line movement. or. motionat a normal or perpendicu-.1arly..to..the.abdomen. The means for holding .and pressingup.against.the pad.iscof.thenature of a I spantogra-phic or lazy tongstnucture andhas relatively 'long springs for. stressing thelever .orlike elements ofth'e device'tooeliminate on reduce toa.minimumanyattendant reboundaction-that usually is :peculiar to stressed.spri-ng reactions, so as: to protect: the patientfrom. shock or injuryor :a too quick' recovery unrestoringof the'ch-iropractically stressedparts of the patientsbody which is under treatment. Also t'here ispreferably ad- "ditionarrelatively long springs acting "directly againstthe-abdominal padtso as' to coordinate with the springsWhich-*reacfithrough: the lever arrangement "referred to above. 'Th'ussafety 'againstbruising and'injury to'theribs andthorax of the patientis attained," and: ease' andcomfort of movementofi the patients body,especially the abdominal portion, .as' alsothef thorax is attainedandenjoyed.

The invention also comprehends "means for holding the pad in stationary"position'wvhen a varied treatment of the patient is desired in which amovement of the abdomen is not necessary.

"Other objects, advantages, capabilities, features, and the like arecomprehended by the invention'as will later'appean and assure inherentlypossessed by the'invention.

Referring-to thedrawings:

Fig. l-is a side view in elevation 'Withparts broken away of part ofamachine embodyin our invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view'o'f the device;

4 Fig-3 isa plan sectional view taken in a plane represented by line"3-3 Tin ,Fig, 1 of thefdraw- Fig. 4' is an end: view in elevation,on'areduced scale, of the device;

Fig. 5 isa *fragmentarytpart sectional'iview taken in aplane-represented by line -5 in Fig. 11 of the drawings;

Fig.6 is a fragmentary endview of therdevice; Fig.7 is asectional-viewtaken in:a p1ane=represented by line" 7 1 in FigiB' ofthe drawings and,

Fig. 8 is:a= side view showing the use:of the device.

Referring more in detail to the "drawings' the embodiment selected 'toillustrate the invention 'is shown in connected wi'th a device to beused in chiropractic treatment and having longitudinally extendingsupporting members ll such as bars or itubes on which are suitablysupported pads of the 'l'i'kel Hand [3, and between said pads issupported a pad or the like [4, on' a mechanism later described andforming part ofthepresent invention.

The latter mechanism comprises a lower base member l5 mounted upon thebars l l and held in position'against lateral movement relative to thebars H by strips I6"(see Fig.4)fixed to the base piece [5 and locatedadjacent to thebars: l I, and

" upperbasemember l"l,"vvhich is parallel to'the base member f5, andupon the base I! is mounted the pad I4. The-pad Hlispreferably providedwith a cushion of-resilient or flexiblematerial [8, such assponge'rubberorthe'1ike,'and a' sheet covering [9. Thecushion'lil'andthe covering '[9 maybe connected or=secured to the basell'in any suitable manner.

Onthe base I 5 at'anend thereof andnear the sides thereof "are-securedbearing brackets '20 and 20 of the strap type and having base flanges-2l and 2| suitably secured'to the-base I5,'as by suitable securingelementssuch as screws or bolts 22. "Likewise to'the under side of theup er base I? at an end thereof and at the sides thereof are securedlike bearing" brackets 23 and-23 of-the strap type and having 'baseflanges 24 and-24 suitably secured-tothe base I l,"-as'by suitable-securing elements'such-as screwsor bolts-Z5. 'The brackets -23 arevertically above corresponding brackets'ZO. In each or these brackets 22and 23 is firmly'helda'suitable bearing unitZG; which may be of a rolleror ba11= bearing type.

Extending laterally through the lower and upper bearing'units 26 and 26are shafts '2'! and 28 which are suitably-secured to'the centralrotorpart of each bearin unit. "The ends of these shafts 21'andZBare-suitably threaded to carry nuts 29 and 3fl (seeFigfi3) 'so' as"to actas'collars or abutting elementsat each side of" thebearingunits'zfi' (see alsoFig."4).

To the outer projecting end parts of the shafts 21 and 28 are connectedthe ends of pantographic or lazy tong lever arms 31 and 32, at bothsides of the device, and said ends are clamped against the nuts 29 byend nuts 33. Fixed to arms 3i and 32 and extending therewith areauxiliary lever arms 34 and 35 which act as lateral bracing arms. Thesearms have laterally extending foot parts 36 and 3'! and toe parts 38 and39 which are suitably apertured to receive the shafts 26 and 21 andwhich are held to the shafts 26 and 2'8 by suitable nuts 40 and 4|.Where these lever arms 3l-34 and 32-35 cross they are provided withsuitable fulcrum apertures for receiving a cross shaft 42 which acts asthe fulcrum shaft for the lever arms. On this shaft 42 are thrustwashers 43 which are located between the lever couples 3 l-34 and 32-35,and on the outer sides of these lever couples are secured on the shaft62 thrust nuts 44 and 45, of which the nuts 45 are on the ends of theshaft 42 (see Fig. 3 in particular).

The lower ends of lever arm-s 32 and the upper ends of lever arms 3! areapertured to receive the end portions of cross shafts 46 and 41 thelatter having thrust nuts 48 and 49 on the ends of the shafts 46 and 41,and the lower end parts of the arms 35 and the upper end portions of thearms 36 have foot parts 56 and and toe parts 52 and 53, and these toeparts have suitable apertures for receiving the cross shafts 46 and 41(see Fig. 2). On the shafts 46 and M are abutment nuts 54 and 55adjacent the toe parts 5?. and 53. On the parts of the shaft 46 betweenthe toes 52 and the lower end portions of the arms 32, and on the partsof the shaft ll between the toes 53 and the upper end portions of thearms 3|, are rollers 56 and 5'! which rotate freely on their respectiveshaft portions. These rollers 56 and 5'! roll or run on race plates 58and 59 suitably attached to the bases !5 and H. The lever arm parts 3!and 33 and the lever arm parts 32 and 35 may be fixed together by anysuitable means, such as by spot welding.

To the lower end portion of the lever arm couples 32--35 are suitablyfixed studs 56 and to these studs are connected hooked ends of coilsprings 6 i, the other ends of these springs having hooked ends hookedin suitable apertures provided in the foot portions 36 of the lever armcouples 3l34. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) These springs 6| normally act to pullthe lower parts of the lever arms together so as to raise the pad M tothe position as shown in Fig. 1. To control the upper limit of movementof the pad is an anchor element 62, which may be in the'form of a ropeor chain or the like, may be used as desired. This element 62 isconnected at its lower end to a hook 63 suitably fixed to the lower basel5 and at its upper end to a hook 64 suitably fixed to the upper basell, as shown in Fig. 2.

For the purpose of cushioning and regulating the downward movement orextent of movement of the pad ['6 on which a patient is treated certaincushioning members are preferably used, such as helical springs 65 and66, there being two springs 65 at one end of the device and one spring66 at the other end of the device. See Fig. 3. The lower ends of thesesprings may be suitably anchored to the lower base l5, as by way ofstraps 6'! and 63 which loop over the lower coil end-s of these springs65 and 66 and which are suitably secured or fastened to the top of thelOWer base I5, as by screws or bolts 69, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Theupper ends of the springs 65 and 66 press up against the lower face ofthe upper base ll and anchor straps though not necessary may be likewiseused if desired.

At times when it is desired to treat a patient without depressing thepad M the latter may be locked up in the position shown in Fig. 1 by theuse of a strut link or post 10 pivotally connected at its lower end to afoot piece H by way of a suitable pivot pin 12, the foot piece having asole l3 suitably fixed to the top of the lower base l5 at an end thereofas shown in Fig. 1. At the upper end of the post 76 is provided alaterally extending hook M adapted to fit about a depending stud l5suitably fixed to an end part of the upper base ll (see Figs. 1, 4 and6). The hook part M abuts up against the under side of the upper base I1and may be held clamped to it by a thumb nut 16 screwed on the stud 75.When it is desired to use the device to depress the pad M, as shown inFig. 8', the upper end of the strut 73 is unhooked by loosening thethumb nut 16.

In Fig. 8 is shown a patient in prone position on a chiropractic machinewith the abdominal part ll of the patient on the pad Hi. When the doctorpresses down on the patients back 18 to give a desired effect to theback, there is also a pressure effect against the abdomen H as the padE6 is moved down. This downward movement is straight down so that thereactive stress is conversely upward over the extent'of the abdomen. Instructures where the pad M is hinged about an axis proximate to thelower part of the abdomen, as about where the hips are located, theupper part of the abdomen would not receive any reactive stress and inmost cases would be suspended above and spaced from the forward part ofthe pad. By use of a straight down movement of the pad i5 desiredtreatment of the upper part of the abdomen may be effectively utilized.

In operation the patient lies in a horizontal and procumbent positionupon the machine with his abdomen upon the pad Hi. When the doctorpresses down on the patients back, as at the portion '18, the abdomenportion 1! forces down the pad M as to a position shown in Fig. 8. Thedownward movement of the pad I4 is a right line movement so that thereactive stress against the abdomen is evenly distributed over theextent of the abdomen.

The downward movement of the pad l4 causes the lever arms 3!34 and 32-35tofconsonantly pivot about the axes of the shafts 2! and 28 and thebearing units 26, against the restraining force of the springs 6i.Coordinately the rollers 56 and 51 at the other ends of the lever meansroll or translate along the roller plates or races 58 and 59 so that themovement of the pad M will be a straight or straight line movement. Theshoe and toe features 36-33, 3l39, 5952, and 5i53 afford lateral stayingagainst any side play or swing so that the straight or right linemovement of the pad M will be constant and unvarying.

As the pad 54 moves down the counter stress of the springs 6| varies andto avoid a too rapid change in rate of downward movement of the pad l4,upright and directly acting springs 65 and 66 react against the pad I lso as to even up the downward strain or movement of the pad it. As forexample, as the leverage of the lever means changes whereby the reactivestress of the springs 6| reduces the com-pressing of the helical springs65 and 66 consonantly increases resulting in a more or less uniformstraining and stressing. Conversely, the restoration of the pad I4,'thatis, its return or upward movement will likewise be regular and uniform,and will not jump or rebound.

The chain 62 limits the upper position of the pad l4 so that it will benormally even with the other pads I2 and 13 of the machine.

When effecting a treatment wherein the pad 14 is not to be depressed thehooking of the post in upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, willfirmly hold the pad I 3 even with the pads 12 and I3.

While we have herein described and upon the drawing shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that theinvention is not limited thereto but comprehends other constructions,arrangements of parts, details, features, and the like without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus disclosed the invention,

We claim:

1. In a chiropractic devicecomprising supporting means for pads uponwhich a patient lies in a procumbent position, the combination therewithof a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, apantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases forcontrolling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction,and resilient means connected to parts 0f said lever arrangement foroffering a yieldable reactive stress against relative approach of saidbases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with anend of said levers pivotally connected to said bases and the other endsof said levers being movable along faces of said bases, said ends ofsaid levers having laterally extending bracing portions for actingagainst said bases to give lateral support to said levers against sidemovement.

2. In a chiropractic device comprising supporting means for pads uponwhich a patient lies in a procumbent position, the combination therewithof a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, apantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases forcontrolling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction,and resilient means connected to parts of said lever arrangement foroffering a yieldable reactive stress against rel ative approach of saidbases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with anend of said levers connected to bearing means, said bearings beingconnected to said bases, said bearing means having shafts, said ends ofsaid levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected tosaid shaft to give lateral support to said levers against side movement,and the other ends of said levers being movable along faces of saidbases.

3. In a chiropractic device comprising supporting means for pads uponwhich a patient lies in a procumbent position the combination therewithof a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, apantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases forcontrolling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction,and resilient means connected to parts of said lever arrangement foroffering a yieldable reactive stress against relative approach of saidbases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with anend of said levers connected to bearing means, said bearings beingconnected to said bases, said bearing means having shafts, said ends ofsaid levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected tosaid shaft to give lateral support to said levers against side movement,and said other ends of said levers connected to hear-- ing means,rollers connected to said later bearing means and located to roll alongthe faces of said bases.

4. In a chiropractic device comprising supporting means for pads uponwhich a patient lies in a procumbent position, the combination therewithOf a stationary base, a movable base carrying an abdominal pad, apantographic type of lever arrangement connected to said bases forcontrolling relative movement of said bases in a right line direction,and resilient means connected to parts of said lever arrangement foroffering a yieldable reactive stress against relative approach of saidbases, said lever arrangement having mutually fulcrumed levers with anend of said levers connected to bearing means, said bearings beingconnected to said bases, said bearing means having shafts, said ends ofsaid levers having laterally extending bracing portions connected tosaid. shaft to give lateral support to said levers against sidemovement, and said other ends of said levers connected to bearing means,rollers connected to said later bearing means and located to roll alongthe faces of said bases, said later bearing means having shafts, theother ends of said levers having laterally extending bracing portionsconnected to said later shaft to give lateral support to said leversagainst side movement.

ALBERT H. BINASH. WILLIAM A. TULJ... ROY T. GAUTNEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Galbraith May 19, 1942

